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Martin Archer

Martin Archer Sopranino, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, clarinets, recorders, keyboards, software instruments

Archer is a composer and improviser equally at home on stage or in the studio, dividing his energies between jazz and non jazz projects. His principle work is the series of CD releases for his own Discus Music label.

His current groups include his long standing duo with vocalist Julie Tippetts, the 14 piece AACM influenced big band Engine Room Favourites, 3 piece nu-jazz and electronics trio Inclusion Principle, improvising leftfield rock group Orchestra Of The Upper Atmosphere, and 30 voice performance art choir Juxtavoices. All of these and more are represented on Discus Music CDs

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17
Album Review

Das Rad: Adios Al Futuro

Read "Adios Al Futuro" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


This UK-based band's follow-up to its self-titled 2019 release is a tad less experimental and more grounded in progressive rock and krautrock, aptly called out in the press release. It is an acoustic-electric offering often sweetened by Martin Archer's wistful sax lines, slightly tinged with studio echo to provide a little depth. Moreover, many of these works feature hummable melody lines and memorable hooks, although the trio does sprinkle ominous overtones amid Nick Robinson's stinging guitar chords and razor-like lead ...

44
Album Review

Das Rad: Das Rad

Read "Das Rad" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


More from the imaginary artistic world of multi-instrumentalist, multi-reedman, producer Martin Archer and associates is a welcome surprise. Then again, the artist's Discus label offers a huge discography devised on dissimilar, futuristic and unorthodox outcomes. Other than the one-off modern jazz outings, Archer is a crafty, forward-thinking musician, spanning numerous ensembles, large and small. Here, the trio seemingly abides by a compose as-you-go rite of passage that embeds experimental jazz fusion, psycho pop, classic progressive rock and a slew of ...

5
Album Review

Martin Archer: Another Fantastic Individual

Read "Another Fantastic Individual" reviewed by Matt Parker


This album is perhaps slightly less immediate than some of Martin Archer's other recent releases, such as the eponymous debut album of the Krautrock-esque trio Das Rad, but no less essential and, perhaps, in a sense, more impressive given that it was performed in its entirety by Archer alone. Another Fantastic Individual is a slow burner which seriously rewards repeated listening; fans of SOS, for instance, will probably find much to love straight away given the reed-heavy arrangements ...

64
Album Review

Ron Caines - Martin Archer Axis: Les Oiseaux de Matisse

Read "Les Oiseaux de Matisse" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


The founder of this UK-based label, reedman/multi-instrumentalist Martin Archer and many of his longtime or more recent cohorts radiate a seemingly eternal sphere of invention. Other than ongoing projects with specific artists or ensembles, no two albums are distinctly alike. Hence, the element of surprise is a recurring element. Here, Archer and saxophonist Ron Caines co-lead the septet for a multidimensional jazz-tinged bash amid colorific textures, pulsating free-form sprees, quaint oddities and other captivating attributes throughout the 77-minute runtime.

68
Album Review

Martin Archer + Engine Room Favourites: Safety Signal From A Target Town

Read "Safety Signal From A Target Town" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Once again, British multi-reedman Martin Archer leads his large ensemble, Engine Room Favourites, through a myriad of persuasive developments. The band's assertive modus operandi is occasionally sectionalized during various motifs, where minimalist structures, free-form outbursts, structured horns charts and many other factors come into play. Indeed, they pack a mighty wallop coming from all angles on this 76-minute program. Vibraphonist Corey Mwamba is a colorist via his cool and sleek passages during more conventional modern jazz segments. Yet ...

3
Album Review

Martin Archer: Story Tellers

Read "Story Tellers" reviewed by Duncan Heining


We used to call records like this 'concept albums.' The whole idea soon became a term of derision thanks to Rick Wakeman and others. Nevertheless, let's stick with it for a moment. Martin Archer's Story Tellers is constructed as a series of interlocking vignettes, linked both by certain recurring themes, narrative threads and the attribution of certain functional roles to each of these six musicians. In that sense, you have here what can usefully be seen and heard as a ...

20
Album Review

Archer / Mwamba / Bennett / Fairclough: Sunshine! Quartet

Read "Sunshine! Quartet" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


You never know what path British reedman, multi-instrumentalist Martin Archer will traverse. Whether he's leading orchestral units, freely improvised trios, avant-rock and electronics tinged fare or his recordings with legendary rock and jazz vocalist Julie Tippetts, the artist underscores his experimental implementations with the element of surprise. On this quartet date with his fellow countrymen, Archer occasionally interweaves an abstract Birth of the Cool type vibe with forceful mini-motifs, sublime melodies and hearty improvisational sectors. Moreover, each musician contributes one ...

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"Bright eyed and cleverer than 1000 contemporary musicians" - Ben Watson

"Martin was a man at one with the performance, engaging with the laptop like a genuine instrument. Elements of his show were challenging, consciousness shifting, peaceful and reassuring, thoroughly confident with his avant-garde originality." - Freenoise

It takes nothing away from Martin Archer, a composer I admire greatly, if I suggest that Tippetts is the inspiration behind this record. And yet, it would be a lesser achievement without him. Archer is a collagist of rare skill. He seems able to create something piece by piece and allow it to unfold on its own terms. I’ve said it before but someone really should give the boy an orchestra for Xmas. Perhaps then his talent might get its due recognition. Here he sets Tippetts’ Gothic poems and songs inside exquisite and sometimes disturbing frames. Not once does he clutter the vision. Sometimes it’s sparse, as on Daydreams And Candle-Light or on Moonshine, just words with the instrumentation barely breathing behind. At others like on The Bear Walks At Night or Rainsong words and voice are given a powerful, echoing, industrial background. And when Tippetts sings, Archer draws out that wonderful, blues-tinged sound from her voice. This is the record that Tippetts always had in her and if I say it’s every bit as good as her Sunset Glow from 1976, then those that know will understand what praise that truly is. - Duncan Heining, JAZZWISE

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